This bill provides educational support professionals (non-teaching school staff) with up to four years of seniority credit for active military service they completed, including service before starting their school job. To qualify, a professional must be declared eligible for federal veterans' benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The credit counts as if the professional were employed full-time during their military service, directly affecting their seniority calculations for school district benefits and job protections. The bill aligns seniority treatment for these staff with existing provisions for teaching staff.
This bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide veteran benefit information packets to veterans when issuing a license or ID card that includes a veteran designation. The packets must include the NJ Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs Benefits Guide, the VA’s "Federal Benefits for Veterans" booklet, and resources for finding additional benefits. Information must be available in both physical copies at MVC offices and online. The law applies to initial licenses, renewals, probationary licenses, and veteran-designated ID cards. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This New Jersey bill eliminates all pet adoption fees at local government-run shelters and kennels for active military members (including New Jersey National Guard after basic training), veterans, and reservists. Shelters may adjust their overall fees to offset costs from waiving these fees for eligible individuals. The policy covers standard adoption expenses like vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and wellness exams. It defines "veteran" broadly to include honorably discharged service members and WWII Merchant Marine veterans.
This New Jersey bill provides tax credits for businesses and individuals who pay qualified wages to disabled veterans. It allows a 15% credit (capped at $1,800 per veteran annually) on wages paid to veterans with a 30%+ service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, for sustained employment (185+ business days) during 2017-2020. The credit applies against both corporation business tax and gross income tax, with unused portions carryable forward for up to seven years. Businesses cannot claim the credit if wages are already counted toward other state tax credits or if the veteran hire appears to replace existing workers solely for the credit.
ACR 36 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's annual property tax deduction for veterans from $250 to $1,250, effective 2024. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses who reside in New Jersey, allowing them to deduct this larger amount from property taxes or have taxes canceled if the bill is below $1,250. The amendment would require voter approval at the next general election following its passage. This change updates a long-standing provision that previously capped the deduction at $250. The bill does not alter eligibility requirements for veterans or surviving spouses.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's four-year public colleges from charging tuition or fees to the spouse or dependent child of a disabled veteran who meets specific criteria. To qualify, the student must be accepted for undergraduate study, have applied for all available state/federal grants and scholarships, and applied for VA tuition benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The state will reimburse institutions for waived tuition costs. It directly affects disabled veterans' families seeking undergraduate education at public universities.
AJR 63 is a joint resolution urging the U.S. Department of Defense and New Jersey Civil Service Commission to coordinate so deployed military service members can take civil service examinations during their deployment. It directly affects New Jersey military members who are deployed, enabling them to participate in exams while serving, which would maintain their eligibility for civil service jobs upon return. The resolution does not change existing rules but requests collaboration to allow exams during deployment, helping veterans secure public-sector employment faster by keeping them on hiring eligibility lists.
This bill increases New Jersey's gross income tax deduction for eligible veterans from $6,000 to $12,000. It directly affects veterans who were honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, reserve components, or the New Jersey National Guard in federal active duty status. The key provision amends the state tax code to double the deduction amount available when calculating taxable income. The change applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date. This is a direct tax benefit that reduces the taxable income for qualifying veterans.
This bill removes a requirement that New Jersey National Guard members must have served in "federal active duty status" to qualify for a $3,000 annual state tax deduction. It directly affects New Jersey National Guard members who were honorably discharged but never activated for federal duty, making them eligible for the same tax deduction previously only available to those with federal active duty service. The key change amends the state tax code (N.J.S.54A:3-1) to eliminate the "federal active duty status" condition from the veterans' deduction provision. This is a concrete policy change that expands eligibility for the deduction to all honorably discharged National Guard members, regardless of federal activation.
This bill changes how veterans prove their status when applying for New Jersey state civil service jobs. It allows applicants to submit a personal statement claiming veteran status instead of a formal determination from the state's Veterans Affairs office before being placed on an eligibility list. However, applicants must still provide the official determination of veteran status before being hired. The change affects all veterans eligible under New Jersey law, including those who served in major conflicts from World War I onward.
